County and Coalition to End Human Trafficking to Host Public Training

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WHAT:

The South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking and the County of Santa Clara’s Office of Women’s Policy is hosting a daylong training to fight human trafficking. Presentations and Breakout sessions will cover Criminal and Civil Human Trafficking Cases, Immigration Issues, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Cases, and Public Benefits.

WHO:

County of Santa Clara Office of Women’s Policy

The South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking

Presenters from the U.S. Department of Justice, Santa Clara County Office of the District Attorney, EEOC, Santa Clara University School of Law, Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center, Open Society Foundations, Bay Area Legal Aid

WHEN

Friday, November 16, 2012 9:00am ‐ 4:30pm

WHERE:

Mexican Heritage Plaza, School of Arts & Culture

1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose, CA 95116 (At King Rd.)

WHY:

The Bay Area is a top destination point for trafficked victims. Its major harbors and airports, powerful economy, large immigrant population and its industries make it vulnerable to human trafficking. According to a congressional Research Service, as many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked into the United States each year, and some have estimated that 100,000 U.S. citizen children are victims of trafficking within the United States.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Those interested in this training can register at http://LitigationTraining.eventbrite.com

Law Offices: $55

Nonprofit and Government Employees: $25

Law Students, Professors and Staff: FREE

Participants can earn up to 5.5 hours of MCLE Credits. Proceeds will provide services to victims of human trafficking.

Background

According to the United Nations, human trafficking is the process by which a person is recruited to be controlled and held captive for the purpose of exploitation.

In the United States, Human trafficking became a federal crime under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and is investigated primarily by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE. California enacted its first anti-trafficking law, the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act (Assembly Bill 22, Lieber), in September 2005. Several states have their own laws against human trafficking.

The South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking [SBCEHT] is one of 40 victim centered human trafficking task forces funded jointly by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. Since 2005, the SBCEHT has coordinated the collaborative effort among law enforcement, human trafficking victim services agencies, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify and rescue victims of trafficking in persons and successfully prosecute traffickers.

Human Trafficking Facts

International Data

•An estimated 12.3 million people around the world are forced into labor and sexual servitude, according to the International Labor Organization of the United Nations.

•About 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders, according to the U.S. State Department. Of these, about 80 percent are women and girls, and up to 50 percent are minors. This figure does not include millions that might be trafficked domestically within their own countries.

•An estimated 14,500-17,500 victims of human trafficking are brought into the United States each year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The majority of victims of slavery are women and children, but there has been an increase in the victimization of men as well. Traffickers prey on those who suffer most from factors like gender discrimination, family violence, and lack access to education and economic opportunity.

About the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy:

Developed in the spirit of cooperation between the County and the community, the Office of Women’s Policy was created to identify and address current and emerging issues for women and girls challenging our community today. We promote special programs and activities to support and encourage the success of women and girls in all aspects of society. We serve as a focal point to enhance collaboration among women’s organizations, and complement local advocacy efforts through a focus on education, effective public policy implementation, and systems and institutional reform to better serve women and girls.

About TheSouth Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking(SBCEHT)

The South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking (SBCEHT) is the local effort that responds to human trafficking in Santa Clara County. Through a victim-centered approach we are strengthening local capacity to respond to and identify human trafficking survivors. Anyone who might have encountered a victim of human trafficking can call the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.